Adam Johnson’s schoolgirl accuser was “too scared” to go to football matches after news of his arrest got out, a court heard.

The teenage superfan had been a Sunderland season ticket holder and met her hero Johnson for the first time outside of the Stadium of Light.

A friend of the 15-year-old, one of four ordered to give evidence by the defence, said that the girl stopped going to matches after the Tyne-Wear derby in April last year.

“She stopped going because she was too scared fans would know her by face and would start saying things to her,” the male friend told jurors.

Johnson, 28, held back tears as he took the witness stand for the third day at Bradford Crown Court.

Jurors heard that Johnson’s father received a phone call from Sunderland telling him his son’s contract was being terminated after he pleaded guilty to kissing and grooming the schoolgirl.

He denies two further counts of sexual activity with a child and is currently on trial.

The court also heard how Johnson’s former Sunderland teammates abandoned him after he admitted the offences.

His pal Steven Fletcher, who he holidayed in Dubai with last year, is no longer willing to give evidence in support of the player, the court heard.

He had been due to testify about Johnson’s body hair, a point of contention between the prosecution and the defence.

Defence barrister Orlando Pownall QC said: “Since you pleaded guilty what has the reaction to you from other players been?”

Johnson said: “They’ve taken a step back.”

The court heard Johnson say he lost everything due to the sexual liaison with the teen, now 16.

Prosecutor Kate Blackwell QC said: “Some may have sympathy as you have thrown away your glittering career but it’s no one’s fault but your own and it’s a direct result of your excessive arrogance.”

Johnson replied: “And stupidity, I’d say more stupidity.”

A photo of the alleged victim at a birthday party was then shown to the player.

“She looks 25,” Johnson said.

Prosecutor Kate Blackwell QC asked: “You fancied her, you didn’t care how old she was did you?”

“Not at that time I didn’t,” Johnson admitted.

Ms Blackwell went on: “As a celebrity you were used to getting what you wanted and you wanted the girl?”

Johnson replied: “Yes.”

Johnson Googled the age of consent days after his liaison with the teenage girl, the court heard.

The footballer claimed this was in the Stadium of Light dressing room while discussing a TV documentary with his Black Cats teammates.

“It was a Ross Kemp documentary on gangs where he goes all over the world to see how bad it is. It was the fourth series,” he told the court.

“Have you researched this?” Ms Blackwell asked. “The fact that you had, three days before, sat in your car and engaged in sexual activity with a 15-year-old, did that have any bearing on your research?”

Johnson said: “No.”

The ex-England winger told the court he felt “absolutely awful” for the girl and her family.

Mr Pownall QC said: “A lot has been laid bare about you and your relationships with other women and your relationship with [girlfriend] Stacey Flounders.

“You have been called arrogant and it has rightly been said that you have said unkind things to Stacey. How do you feel now?”

Johnson replied: “I feel absolutely awful about what I did to everyone but mainly to the girl and her family.

“I don’t show much emotion.”

“How do you feel about yourself?” Mr Pownall asked.

Johnson said: “Absolutely awful.”

Johnson’s defence issued court orders to summon four teenagers to give evidence to the court.

One of Johnson’s accuser’s former school pals said the girl didn’t care he had a girlfriend because he was a rich footballer.

“I told her I didn’t think it was right,” the friend told jurors. “She said she didn’t care because he was a footballer. She used to tell us how much money he made.”

Johnson, of Castle Eden in County Durham, is alleged to have engaged in sexual activity with the schoolgirl in his Range Rover on January 30 last year. He denies two counts.